Chris Collins

Assistant Coach

Chris Collins is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Bisons.

Collins played one year of baseball for Lipscomb head baseball coach Jeff Forehand at Trevecca Nazarene University. After his playing days were over, Collins spent four years as an assistant coach for Forehand working as a hitting instructor, outfield coach and a recruiting coordinator.

When Forehand left Trevecca in the summer of 2006 to become the head coach at Lipscomb, Collins stepped in as his replacement as the sixth head coach in the history of the school.

"Chris is not only an excellent baseball coach, but one of the finest Christian men that I know," Forehand said. "He brings knowledge, enthusiasm and energy to our team immediately. He will be able to help us take our program to another level."

In his two seasons as head coach at Trevecca in 2007 and 2008 Collins posted a record of 81-34-1. In two seasons in the TranSouth Athletic Conference he guided Trevecca to a 38-9 record and two conference championships. Trevecca also played in the NAIA Region XI Tournament both seasons.

Collins earned numerous awards at Trevecca. He was named both the TranSouth and Region XI Coach of the Year in 2007. He also directed Trevecca to No. 4 nationally in the NAIA, the highest ranking ever for the team in 2007.

According to the Trevecca athletic department web site, Collins produced two All-Americans, one honorable mention All-American, one NAIA Scholar-Athlete, ten NAIA Region XI first team selections, one Region XI Player of the Year, three NAIA Region XI Rawlings Gold Glove award winners, one TranSouth Player of the Year, 12 TranSouth First and seven Second Team selections, four TranSouth Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners, and 11 TranSouth Scholar-Athlete Award winners in his two seasons.

"This is an opportunity to be part of what looks to be a resurrection of sorts of Lipscomb athletics across the board and especially with baseball,"Collins said. "It was such a high-caliber program in the NAIA years ago. Obviously, the school is trying to create the same kind of legacy and tradition in the NCAA."

Collins played for the University of New Mexico and South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., before finishing his collegiate career at Trevecca.

Collins was a standout player for Trevecca before becoming an assistant coach. His best season was in 2002 as a senior when he batted .412, leading the TranSouth in home runs with 20. He also drove in 51 runs. He received All-TranSouth and NAIA Region XI First Team. He earned honorable mention All-American.

Collins points to his longtime association with Forehand as the most positive aspect of their working relationship.

"The No. 1 attribute that an assistant coach needs to have is to be able to anticipate what the head coach wants," said Collins. "As a player under Jeff I realized pretty early that we think along the same thought pattern a great deal of the time."

"I feel like as an assistant coach I can do what Jeff wants and do it the way he wants it done. I think from a professional standpoint that typifies our working relationship."

Collins graduated with a degree in communications from Trevecca in 2002, and completed his Masters in Science of Management degree from Trevecca in 2004.

Chris and his wife Sharon reside in Nashville, and have a son Cason and a daughter Kaylyn.